890 
to imitate his perfection. To fol- 
low, in fine, the amiable and inte- 
resting example which, in this, as in 
various. other instances, the servant 
instructs the master, and, above all, 
to rescue the former from that wan- 
tonness, that tyranny, which the 
proud and the strong so often exer- 
cise upon the humble and weak. 
But you are. anxious for the circum- 
stances. 
They relate to a dog belonging to 
an English nobleman. ‘The favou- 
rite had fallen into disgrace from an 
incorrigible habit of annoying the 
flocks of the neighbouring farmers. 
One of these having,.in vain, driven 
the depredator from his premises, 
came, at length, to the ofiender’s 
master, with a dead lamb under his 
arm—the viétim of the last night’s 
plunder, The plaintiff farmer, be- 
ing admitted an interview with his 
lordship, the culprit, who happen- 
ed, at that moment, to be enjoying 
the smiles and caresses of his pa- 
tron, no sooner saw the poor dead 
lamb, than he confessed the crime 
by an universal tremor; then leap- 
ed, in a confused manner, from. his 
master’s lap, and slunk from his ac- 
cuser. The farmer now lodged his 
indigiment, with due formality; en- 
tered into the particulars of his 
grievance, and went away sturdily 
declaring, that he had suffered so 
often and so long, from that daily 
and nightly robber, that he hoped 
justice would overtake the guilty, 
that due punishment be infli¢ied, and 
adequate atonement made for the 
damages. ‘ 
The accuser being departed, a 
long and awful pause ensued, which 
the accused put an end to by thrust- 
ing part of his head from the table 
under which he had seught shelter, 
and casting a conscious yet appeal. 
ANNUAL REGISTER, | 1803. 
ing look at his offended master, as 
if to claim his mercy or to temper — 
his justice. Neyer was confession 
and contrition for a fault more ho- © 
nestly or more  penitently dis~ 
played. : 
His master still keeping silence, 
the culprit seemed to think he might 
hazard something more, and accord- 
ingly discovered the rest of his, head; 
and this advance producing nothing 
to terrify, or even to discourage, he 
venturcd to put forth his paws, and 
raised them, as if in supplication, to 
his master’s knee, which, having 
gently patted to no purpose, he 
grew more importunate, and, at 
length, by along sighing kind of pe- 
titionary whine, drew upon his de- 
voted head the following denuncia- 
tions. 
‘* Base and ungrateful wretch! thou 
hast been nursed in luxury and fon- 
dled by atiection,—thy blood-thirs- 
ty wantonness shall, at length, meet 
its reward.” 
Saying this, his indignant master 
rang the bell, at whose dread sum- 
mons a servant no sooner appeared, 
than the accusations were accumu~ 
lated and the menaces resumed. 
‘¢ | have too often forgiven this har- 
dened offender to hope any good 
from farther lenity, continued his 
lordship. Another heinous com- 
plaint has been lodged against hiin. 
He is the. scourge of the whole 
neighbourhood ; and I will endure 
it no longer—away with him !”—The 
judge haying thus pronounced sen- 
tence of deep displeasure, left the 
condemned criminal to the execu- 
tioner. 
The trembling culprit still remain- 
ed under the table, but justas the 
servant was stooping to drag him 
forth from his. retreat, the master 
returned, and brought a eens 
im ; y 
